Apparatus for distributing and separating ore



APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND SEPARATING ORE Filed Aug. 21, 1956 E. A.HOBART May 31, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

EDWARD A. HOBART I W MK ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTINGAND'SEPARATING ORE Filed Aug. 21, 1956 E. A. HOBART May 31, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 2 m z 'm' 'I'OR. EDWARD A.HOBART ATTORNEYS nited StatesPatent APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING AND SEPARATING ORE Edward A. Hobart,Troy, Ohio, assignor to The Hobart Brothers Company, Troy, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 21, 1956, Ser. No. 605,310

4 Claims. 01. 209-457 This invention relates to an apparatus forseparating ore, particularly finely divided ores such as are entrainedin the sands of beaches.

It has been discovered that sand, particularly beach sand, has valuableminerals entrained therein which can be removed from the sand profitablywhere the volume of sand is sufiicient to yield a relatively largereturn and where the sand can be handled economically and at a rapidrate.

A number of plants have been installed for recovering ore from beachsand and the like, but these plants are generally stationarily situatedmaking it necessary to convey the sand to be processed to the plant andto haul the debris or tailings therefrom.

In the operation of such a plant certain variables must be taken intoconsideration, such as the feed rate of the sand, the density thereof,and the particular movement which the sand takes at the instant ofseparation.

In general, all plants, including the arrangement of the presentinvention, which handle finely divided ores or sand in bulk operate toeffect an initial separation of the waste material from the ore bearingportion of the sand by a gravity concentration operation. Thereafter,the valuable content of the ore bearing concentrate can be separatedfrom the bulk of the concentrate by utilizing a high voltage electricfield, by utilizing a magnetic field, by further gravity treatment, orby other processes such as by flotation and the like.

It is with the gravity separation that the present invention isparticularly concerned.

Due to the variables referred to above that aifect the operation of thegravity separator, such separators heretofore, in order to attain a fairdegree of efiiciency, have been provided with multiple adjustments. Itwill be evident that with such multiple adjustments any change in thecharacter of the sand being treated, or in the rate of flow thereof,will necessitate excessive readjustment of the device in order tomaintain the operating efficiency thereof. Thus, in a plant of largecapacity, either the speed of operation of the plant or the efficiencythereof will suffer if there is any variation whatsoever in the natureof the sand being handled or in the flow characteristics thereof.

Having the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide an ore concentrator or sand separator of the naturereferred to which is rapid in operation and which can be retained inefficient operation without making multiple adjustments in the device.

A further object of the present invention. is the pro:- vision in agravity type ore separator of an arrangement insuring substantiallyuniform flow characteristics of the ore at all times therebysubstantially eliminating one of the variables which aifect theoperation of the usual type gravity separator.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of agravity type ore separator which is so constructed that a minimum numberof adjustments are required to maintain the separator operatingefliciently at all times.

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A still further object of the present invention is the provision of anapparatus for distributing the sand or ore and sand mixture to beseparated or split into a plurality of separate channels so that thedistribution of the ore is uniform to all of the said channels therebyproviding for uniform operating conditions in the several channels.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomemore apparent upon reference to the following specification taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View showing a distributing arrangementfor ore according to this invention and the manner in which the ore thenflows to the sluice;

Figure 2 is a sectional view indicated by line 2-2 on Figure 1 showing aT arrangement for separating the flow of ore from a conduit into twoseparate hoppers; Figure 3 is a plan sectional view indicated by line3-3 on Figure 1 showing the distributor mechanism according to thisinvention and the manner in which the ore flows therefrom to the severalsluices; and

Figure 4 is a side elevational view showing one of the sluices and thedivided compartment into which the sluice discharges and the dividermember therein separating the discharge from the sluice and also showingthe structure for adjusting a bank of sluices in unison.

, Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, in the arrangementof the present invention, which is principally concerned with the act ofseparating granular material and the apparatus which specificallycooperates in carrying out this act, the preferred form in which thepresent invention is employed is that of a barge-type separator althoughthe invention is equally applicable to stationary installation.

One of the particularly troublesome problems encountered in connectionwith gravity separation of sand is the distribution of the large volumeof sand which must be handled to the multiple individual separatingstations in such a manner that each of the separating stations willcarry its proper load.

The finely divided ore or sand which is to be separated is picked upeither from a beach or from beneath the water along a beach or whereverelse there is a supply of the material containing sufiicient valuablecomponent parts to make it economical to separate the material. Thematerial is first screened to remove rocks and other foreign materialand is then delivered to the separating apparatus in the form of asand-water slurry of a consistency that will permit ready flowabilityand handling of the material. Normally, the material is processedthrough a plurality of stages so that the heavy mineral content thereofis progressively concentrated until it reaches a degree of concentrationthat will permit economical processing of the material through refiningstages. The distributing apparatus according to the present invention isuseful in connection with all separating stages in an ore or sandseparating device of thenature generally referred to.

The manner in which this is accomplished by the present invention, andwhich is one of the essential features of the disclosed arrangement, isillustrated in the drawings. In Figure l, which is a section through atypical separating station,'the incoming slurry of sand and water isdelivered via discharge nozzle into the upper end of a distributingarrangement which comprises a cylindrical vessel 82 within which ismounted a smaller cylindrical vessel 84 having an opening 36 in itsbottom wall through which the slurry passes into vessel 82. A

bafile plate 88 is positioned so that the slurry from the nozzle 80 mustflow thereover, and thereby the slurry is maintained intimately admixedwhile it is passing through vessel 84 and out opening 86 in the bottomthereof into vessel 82. Vessel 82 is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced discharge nozzles 90- through which the slurrypasses so as to drop downwardly into a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced chamhers 92. t

In order to provide for uniform distribution of the starry amongst thechambers 92, while at the same time maintaining the slurry admixed, thevessels 82 and 84 and the bafile. plate 88 are connected together andmounted 011a drive shaft 94 extending downwardly from a drive motorarrangement 96. Shaft 94 is journalled at its opposite ends in suitablehearing means, and by its rotation provides for absolutely uniformdistribution of a uniform mixture of water and sand to the severalcompartments 92;

The compartments 92 are each provided with a dis charge conduit 98, andeach discharge conduit leads to a Y discharge fitting 100 (see Figure2), the two discharge openings of which are arranged to dischargeintothe adjacently arranged hopper means 192 Since'there are twelve of thechambers or compartments 92 it will be evident that there are 24 of thehoppers 162 associated with each distributor head. This will best beseen in Figure 3 wherein the said chambers or compartments and thereceiving hoppers and the conduits leading thereto are clearlyillustrated.

The hoppers 162 are each provided with discharge fittings 104 at thebottom ends thereof, and each said dis charge fitting 19d divides thedischargefrom the pertaining hopper into two paths, and these areconveyed downwardly and outwardly through the conduits 1%.

from the sluice is engaged by the rubberlike separator blade 120, thelighter fraction passes over the blade to be received in a hopper 122,while the heavier fraction is delivered to the hopper 124 on the side ofblade 120 nearest the sluice.

According to the present invention the distribution of the sand-waterslurry and the arrangement of the sluices A is such that individualadjustments of the sluices and of the blades 12!) associated therewithis not necessary. Rather, it is sufficient for each bank of sluices torest on an angle 126 adjacent their discharge ends and to be supportedon a fixed supporting angle 128 adjacent their receiving ends, theangles 125 are vertically adjustable by the screw and handwheelarrangement 130 to provide It has been found satisfactory to providemerely these two basic adjustments in connection with the apparatusillustrated, and this, of course, greatly simplifies the operation ofthe {device and provides means whereby the character of the separationof the, sand can quickly be At the lower outer end of each conduit 1416there is a 7 still further flow dividing fitting 108, similar to the oneillustrated in Figure 2', which splits theslurry flowing through thepertaining conduit into two paths and delivers this flow into thetwoadjacentiy arranged troughs 110. 7

The actual separation of the sand into its various fractions is nowready to commence. This actual separation is accomplished by causing theslurry of sand and water to flow along an elongated sluice, and, duringwhich travel the heavier fraction of the sand will tend to migratetoward the bottom of the stream and the lighter fraction of the sandwill tend to migrate toward the upper portion of the stream.

When the stream of slurry is discharged from the sluice it tends to fanout and, by locating a dividing blade at the proper point, the heavierfractions in the stream drop to one side of the dividing blade and thelighter fraction will pass over to the other side whereby a division ofthe sand, according to weight, is accomplished. I

This action, and the construction and arrangement of the sluices and thedividing blade associated therewith,

willbest be seen in Figure 4 considered in connection with Figure l.

Each sluice 110 will be seen to comprise a relatively large basinportion 112 that receives the sand-water slurry from the divider fitting108 toward the rear thereof so that, as the slurry is supplied to thesluice, there is a circulation thereof in the said basin portion thatmaintains the slurry admixed. Each sluice also comprises a downwardlyextending spout portion 114 which, tapers inwardlytoward the dischargeend. The sand-water slurry overflows from the lip 116 at the forwardedge of the basin and establishes a stream that flows downwardly throughthe spout 114 which narrows as it proceeds, and which narrowing of thestream tends to cause the fanning out thereof as the slurry dischargesfrom the sluice, as indicated at 11 8.

As has been explained before, there is also a migration of the heavierportion of the sand toward the bottom of the stream and of the lighterportion toward the top of the stream so that, when the fanned outdischarge modified to meetchanging conditions, thus providing anarrangement whereby the apparatus is maintained in its highest degree ofoperating efficiency at all times.

It will be evident that the arrangement described above is adapted notonly as a barge-mounted floating apparatus, but could also be employedwith a stationary separating apparatus provided the additions for suchare economical todeliver the sand to the apparatus to be separated whilehauling therefrom the lighter waste fractions.

In any case, the particular advantages of the present invention willobtain that the sand-water slurry being separated could be distributeduniformly throughout the apparatus and maintained intimately admixed atall times, except during the separating operation, and that a mini mumnumber of adjustments would be required for ad-, justing the apparatusto varying conditions.

It will be evident that most of the individual components of theapparatus, according to the present invention, are relatively smallwhereby repair, replacement, and modification of the apparatus is quitesimple, and the manufacture thereof, the shipping, and the installationthereof is also made relatively easy since no extremely large and bulkycomponents need to be handled.

-I t.will be understood that this invention is susceptible tomodification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions,and accordingly it is desired to comprehend such modifications withinthis invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sand separator; a plurality of inclined sluices, slurry supplypipe means leading downwardly to the upper ends or said sluices, aslurrychamber connected to the upper end of each supply pipe means for thegravity supply of slurry thereto, means for supplying an intimatelyadmixed slurry to said chambers and at a uni form rate so the supply toall of the sluices is at the same uniform rate at all times, said slurrychambers being arranged in equally spaced relation adjacent each otherin a circular path, the said means for supplying slurry to said chamberscomprising a rotary distributor positioned above the chambers on theaxisof said path and means for tilting said sluices in unison to varythe angle of inclination thereof and, therefore, the action of theslurry as it flows therealong. I

2. In a sand separator; a plurality of; inclined sluices arranged inparallel, slurry chambers located above the sluices and supply pipesleading downwardly from the chambers to the upper ends of the sluicesfor a continuous supply of slurry thereto, said chambers being arrangedin equally spaced relation adjacent each other in a circular path, arotary distributor vessel positioned above the chambers on the axis ofsaid path and having a plurality of uniformly circumferentially spaceddischarge openings in the bottom thereof vertically above said chambers,means for supplying a slurry of sand and water to said vessel at theupper end thereof while simultaneously rotating the Vessel whereby theslurry is distributed uniformly amongst the several said slurrychambers, and means for varying the angle of inclination of the sluicesin unison to vary the action of the slurry flowing therealong.

3. In a sand separator; a plurality of inclined sluices arranged inparallel, slurry chambers located above the sluices and supply pipesleading from the chambers to the upper ends of the sluices for acontinuous supply of slurry thereto, said chambers being arranged inequally spaced relation adjacent each other in a circular path, a rotarydistributor vessel positioned above the chambers on the axis of saidpath and having a plurality of discharge openings in uniformlycircumferentially spaced relation in the bottom thereof vertically abovesaid slurry chambers, means for supplying a slurry of sand and water tosaid vessel at the upper end thereof while simultaneously rotating thevessel whereby the slurry is distributed uniformly amongst the severalsaid slurry chambers, said vessel comprising an inner cylindrical memberopen at the top and having a bottom wall with an aperture in the centerthereof, a circular bafHe plate in said inner member adjacent the topthereof the periphery of which is spaced radially inwardly from saidinner cylindrical member, said means for supplying the slurry of sandand water discharging against said baffle plate whereby the sand andwater slurry is maintained intimately admixed at all times, a commonsupporting member for the lower ends of said sluices, and means at theends of the supporting member for adjusting the member vertically inparallelism with itself whereby the angle of inclination of said sluicescan be varied by moving the sluices as a single unit.

4. In combination in a sand separating mechanism; a plurality of groupsof sluices, the sluice of each group being parallel with all others insaid group, said sluices being inclined downwardly toward their one endsand being adapted for receiving a sand-water slurry at their upper otherends, a plurality of supply hoppers positioned above the sluices, eachhopper supplying two conduits at its lower end, each said conduitleading to a dilferent bank of sluices and each conduit at the sluiceend delivering to two adjacent sluices, a distributing mechanism locatedabove the hoppers for supplying the sand-water slurry thereto, saiddistributing mechanism comprising a plurality of circumferentiallyarranged slurry chambers, a pipe leading from the bottom of each chamberand each pipe supplying two adjacent ones of said hoppers, a cylindricaldistributing vessel in the distributing mechanism having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced discharge openings located vertically above theslurry chambers, an inner cylindrical vessel inside the distributingvessel open at the top and having a bottom wall with a central aperturewhich is located radially inwardly from the said discharge openings, acentral baffie in said inner vessel adjacent the upper end thereofextending radially outwardly beyond the said opening and spaced radiallyinwardly from the wall of the inner vessel, a supply conduit arranged todischarge slurry against the top of said bafile, a motor to drive saidbafile and vessels in rotation whereby to get a uniform distribution ofuniformly admixed slurry into the slurry chambers, and means foradjusting the angle of inclination of all of the sluices in each saidbank of said sluices simultaneously and through equal angles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS356,165 Scofield Jan. 18, 1887 419,238 Baldwin Jan. 14, 1890 1,100,971Hambric June 23, 1914 1,104,299 Huelsdonk July 21, 1914 1,104,969 DarrowJuly 28, 1914 1,894,058 Rice Jan. 10, 1933 2,022,585 Chance Nov. 26,1935 2,171,674 Schifferle Sept. 5, 1939 2,286,987 Sturtevant June 16,1942 2,583,768 France Jan. 29, 1952 2,640,592 Finger June 2, 19532,644,583 Cannon July 7, 1953 2,766,882 Cannon Oct. 16, 1956 2,780,356Hobart Feb. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 218,353 Great Britain July 2, 1924352,321 Germany Apr. 25, 1922

